Attachment for cornets and the like.



Jx J. GREENWOOD. I ATTACHMENT FOR GORNBTS AND THE LKKB.

APPLLOA'IION FILED MAR. 18, 1912,

Patented NW. 26,.

JOHN J. GREENWOOD, OF PHOEBUS, VIRGINIA.

ATTACHMENT FOR CORNETS AND THE LIKE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 19

Application filed March 13, 1912. Serial No. 683,559.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. GREENWOOD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Phoebus, in the county of Elizabeth City and State ofVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAttachments for Cornets and the Like, of which the following is a.specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in and relating toattachments for cornets, or other musical instruments, and moreparticularly relates to an attachment for producing French horn tones oreffects from cornets or the like musical instruments; and the objectsand nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilledin the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanyingillustration of what I now believe to be the preferred embodiment fromamong other formations, arrangements and constructions within the spiritand scope of my invention.

An object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple,inexpensive attachment, that can be quickly applied to or removed fromthe bell of a comet or other wind instruu'ient even while theinstrumentis in use and without the loss of a note, and that will changethe tone of the cornet or like instrument into the tone. of a differentinstrument without merely subduing or n'mllling the comet tone; forinstance, will ctliciently change the cornet tone into a French horntone, and thereby enable a cornet to be instantaneously conyerted into aFrench horn or from a French horn back to a cor-net, by merelyapplication of the attachment to the cornet or by removal thereof fromthe cornet ivhile the comet is being used. I

A furtl'ier object of the invention is to provide an attachment for acomet, 01' the like, whereby such instrument can be utilized forproducing French horn tones or and to play the French horn part inorchestra or solo renditions.

The in vention consists in certain novel features in construction and incombinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forthhereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying ,drawings;--Figure 1, is a sectional viewshowing the attachment applied to the hell or mouth of a. comet; orother wind instrument to which it might be adapted. Fig. 2, is a viewshowing the attachment reversed and nested .111 the cornet bell forpacking, transportation, or carrying in a bag or satchel. Figs. 3, 4 and5, are detail and perspective views.

The attachment consists of a bell-like or flaring hollow shell 1, openat its front and rear ends, and longitudinally open from front to rearexcept for certain transversely arranged obstructions. The shell has areduced forwardly projecting front end termi-, hating in thecomparatively small central outlet opening 10. The shell flares andenlarges rearwardly so that the diameter of its rear end isapproximately equal to that ofthe front end of the bell or mouth 2, of acornet or other instrument) for which the attachment is adapted. Theshell is pro-- vided with means whereby it can be quickly and readilyapplied to and removed from the bell of a cornet even while the cornetis in use and without the loss of a note. This quick action is desirablein those instances where a comet is to play the parts of both the Frenchhorn and the comet, and the change from one to the other must be almostinstantaneous.

In use, the rear edge of the large end or hell. of the attachment titsor rests against the front edge of the cornet bell and the attachment isarranged exteriorly thereof and projects and tapers forwardly therefromin virtual. direct forward reducing continuation of the cornet. As ameans whereby the attachment can be coupled to the comet bell, Iprovidethe upper part of the rear edge portion of the attachment shellwith one or more, usually two, downwardly and rearwardly projectinghooks or hangers 12, spaced a distance apart and fixed to the shell andusually each provided with a cash ioning lining. The arrangement ofthese hooks or hangers is such that the attachment can be moved down toproper position at the front of the comet hell with the hooks 12,fitting over the top portion of the comet bell and supporting or hangingthe attachment in proper position on the bell with the lower portion ofthe rear edge of the attac iment bearing again the lower portion of thefront of the cornet l .-ll. The attachment can be quickly lifted fromthe comet and as quickly dropped to position on the comet bell by onehand of the .cornetist while the instrument is in use performing itspart.

The attachment is so formed at t-he lower portion of its rear or flaredend as to provide a reduced outlet, vent, or relief opening from thelower portion of the chamber formed by and within the bell of the cornetand the rear end of the attachment. For instance, I show the lowerportion of the rear edge ot the attaelnnent shell formed with a notch orcutaway portion 11, to form such air outlet or vent.

The attachment shell is interiorly closed, except for a reducedlongitudinal side passage 14, by a transverse partition or diaphragm torthe purpose of forming a sound chamber in the bell of the comet and rearfor the reduced lateral vent or relie'l' opening 11. and the reducedlongitudinal air passage l t, usually arranged at thesame side of theshell as vent 11.

To convert the eornet tones delivered into said chamber, into the tallor deep French horn tones for issuance from said chamber through thevent 11. and passage 14, I provide said chamber with a so-called paddedwall against which the sound waves from the comet. are directlydelivered. To this end I show the hereinbetore mentioned trai'isversepartition composed of an impertorate "all or diaphragm lb, of so-calledpadding arranged behind and supported by a thin perforated metal plate13. I usually employ a thin brass plate 13, having a numher oftransverse perforations 15, uniformly distributed throughout the sameand exposing the padding 1'"), behind the perforations, i ve attainedadvantageous results where the padding is termed by superimposed sheetsone or more of which are of someuhat porus eushicning material. Forinstance, l can face the rear side of the plate '3 with a sheet offabric caused to adhere the surface of the plate. For instance,:ulhesive cloth or t'abric might be used for this purpose. One or morelayers of sheet is cotton can he tlu n placed over said secured s eet.of fabric and backed by a sheet of f u like properly glied or secured inthe sheet cotton in place and to h rni th tr-ant surtace of the paddedwall. to the pas an i l. can be formediby notehing the edge portion ofthe partition formed by the t 13. and padding l6, and in the spa icexample illustrated, this passage 14, is in a Jed immediately in advanceof the 3:3 vezn and s formed by a curved cutaway portion n vhe loweredge of the partition. l1 rear of the reduced front end or nose of :h at.wiuaent hell and immediately in front oi" but spaced tron! the passageit,

so thr az parti ion 13. I provide the shell with int-anal livedtransverse narrow baille p ate or xvall 17, having a central trans ver eprrt'oration or sound passage 18. This irausv-rs plate is arrangedacross the in- Ill:

end or" the attachment shell, closed except tudinal sound passage byproviding comparatively narrow passages between the edges and Walls oatthe shell.

The top of the shell intermediate the front and rear ends of the shelland in rear of the plate 13, is provided with a suitable lateral escapeor outlet preferably formed by a group of adjacent approximately unifornly spaced or arranged transverse perfo- 'ations 19.

The battle plate 17, is of peculiar advantage in serving as a check inpreventing so called split or jar of the tone of the instrument shouldthe instrumentbe over-blown in rendering a fortissimo passage.

Furthermore, this baille plate is of advantage as an aid in theproduction of equal tones.

The formation and internal arrangement of the shell are such as to mostelliciently convert or transform the cornet tones into the French horntone, every note perfect. in tune from lower to upper register andviceversa. The attachment does not mute or subdue the cornet tone butproduces the French horn effect, as though the performer laid aside thecornet and took up and performed on the French horn.

T he attachment shell approximates the shape of the comet bell,and'hence the attachment, when detached from the comet can be reversedand inserted or nested in the comet bell, when the instrument is to beplaced in its case or satchel for packing or transportation.

It is evident that various changes, variations and modifications mightbe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exactdisclosure hereof.

hat I claim is 1. An attachment for cornets, and the like,- consistingof a bell-shaped shell having the edge portion of its large end notched,and having series of side perforations in its front portion, andinternal obstructions with: in the shell.

2. An attachment for cornets and the like, consisting of a hollow shelltapering forwardly from an enlarged open receiving end to a frontreduced open end, and having a side opening at its large end and sideper- 'forations through its reduced forward'portion, a padded partitionspanning the interim of the large end of the shell and having apassagethrough one edge portion, said partition inclined forwardly tosaid passage, and a transverse partiton within the shell in rear of saidpassage and having an opening therethrough and passages past itslongitudinal edges.

3. A French horn attachment for cornets. and thelike, consisting of ahollow n w ,shell adapted to be removably hung on a tcrior or the shellso as the divide the tough 1 orner. bell and project forwardlytherefrom,

